-SATISH HANDA
Supreme Court of India Bench presided by Justice Arun Misra directed both Punjab and Haryana chief ministers to sort out long pending issue over distribution of SYL canal water amicably sitting around a table at an early date before the next date of hearing in the court in third week of August 2020. Information reveals that Punjab government disobeying court’s directions in this regard since a long time for one reason or the other.
During hearing in the case Punjab government representative said that interest of farmers in the state cannot be ignored and state cannot share SYL canal water with any other state demanding that Supreme Court of India should not undertake hearing in this regard, rather hand over the case to Tribunal to decide. According to Punjab government, they have full rights over Satluj, Yamuna and Beas rivers flowing across their state and cannot neglect the rights of farmers in the state dependant on these rivers and share SYL canal water with others when they are already facing severe shortage of water in the state. in spite of the fact Punjab government wants to follow courts directions but under present circumstances unable to share even a drop of SYL canal water with others.
Sunil Jakhad President Punjab Congress Committee, too, said, the state having limited quantity of water for people in the state already facing severe shortage of water and unable to share water with others. Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khatter said that Haryana state is prepared to discuss this issue around a table as desired by Supreme Court of India for the welfare of people in both states saying that Supreme Court orders should be obeyed, honoured by Punjab government. Meanwhile, O. P. Dhankad BJP State President Haryana suggested that Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amrinder Singh should show political will power to solve this long pending SYL canal water issue to share SYL canal water with Haryana state of their share and it is duty of Punjab government to obey Supreme court’s guide lines.
